1 Timothy 3:1-7 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Timothy 3:1-7

The two epistles to Timothy, and that to Titus, contain a scripture-plan of church-government, or a direction to ministers. Timothy, we suppose, was an evangelist who was left at Ephesus, to take care of those whom the Holy Ghost had made bishops there, that is, the presbyters, as appears by Acts 20:28; where the care of the church was committed to the presbyters, and they were called bishops. It seems they were very loth to part with Paul, especially because he told them they should see his... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Timothy 3:1-7

3:1-7 There is a saying which everyone must believe--if a man aspires to the office of overseer in the Church, it is a fine work on which his heart is set. An overseer must be a man against whom no criticism can be made; he must have been married only once; he must be sober, prudent, well-behaved, hospitable and possessed of an aptitude for teaching. He must not over-indulge in wine, nor must he be the kind of man who assaults others, but he must be gentle and peaceable, and free from the... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Timothy 3:1-7

This passage is further interesting in that it tells us something of the appointment and the duties of the leaders of the Church. (i) They were formally set apart for their office. Titus was to ordain elders in every Church ( Titus 1:5 ). The office-bearer of the Church is not made an office-bearer in secret; he is set apart before the eyes of men; the honour of the Church is publicly delivered into his hands. (ii) They had to undergo a period of testing. They had first to be proved ( 1... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Timothy 3:1-7

We have just seen that the Christian leader must be a man who has won the respect of all. In this passage there is a great series of words and phrases describing his character; and it will be worth while to look at each in turn. Before we do that it will be interesting to set beside them two famous descriptions by great heathen thinkers of the good leader's character. Diogenes Laertius (7: 116-126) hands down to us the Stoic description. He must be married; he must be without pride; he must be... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Timothy 3:1-7

The Christian leader must be sober (nephalios, Greek #3524 ) and he must not over-indulge in wine, (paroinos, Greek #3943 ). In the ancient world wine was continually used. Where the water supply was very inadequate and sometimes dangerous, wine was the most natural drink of all. It is wine which cheers the hearts of gods and men ( 9:13 ). In the restoration of Israel she will plant her vineyards and drink her wine ( Amos 9:14 ). Strong drink is given to those who are ready to... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Timothy 3:1-7

The Christian leader must be hospitable (philoxenos, Greek #5382 ). This is a quality on which the New Testament lays much stress. Paul bids the Roman Church to "practise hospitality" ( Romans 12:13 ). "Practise hospitality ungrudgingly to one another," says Peter ( 1 Peter 4:9 ). In the Shepherd of Hermas, one of the very early Christian writings, it is laid down: "The episkopos ( Greek #1985 ) must be hospitable, a man who gladly and at all times welcomes into his house the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Timothy 3:1

This is a true saying ,.... Some think this clause belongs to the last verse of the preceding chapter; and then the sense is, this is a doctrine that is true, and to be believed, that there is salvation through the birth of a Son, or through the incarnate Son of God, for men and women that believe in him, and continue in the faith of him, and love to him, joined with works of righteousness and holiness. And so the same phrase seems to belong to what goes before in 1 Timothy 4:8 . Though it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Timothy 3:2

A bishop then must be blameless ,.... Or "an elder", as the Syriac version renders it; not that it can be expected that such an one should be entirely free from sin, or be blameless in the sight of God; but that he should be one, who is so before men, and has not been guilty of any notorious and flagitious crime; and particularly, is not chargeable with the vices hereafter mentioned or hinted at. So the priests under the law were to be without blemish, even in their bodies, Leviticus 21:17 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Timothy 3:3

Not given to wine ,.... One that does not sit at it, or is continually drinking it, and is intemperate in the use of it; otherwise it is lawful for persons in such an office to drink wine, and sometimes absolutely necessary; see 1 Timothy 5:23 it signifies one that is not given to much wine, as in 1 Timothy 3:8 is not addicted to it, or a follower of it; the Syriac version renders it, "who does not transgress over wine", or go beyond due bounds in the use of it, who is not immoderate in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Timothy 3:4

One that ruleth well his own house ,.... His family, wife, children, and servants; and is not to be understood of his body, and of keeping of that under, and of preserving it chaste and temperate, as appears from what follows: having his children in subjection with all gravity ; keeping a good decorum in his family; obliging his children to observe his orders, and especially the rules of God's word; and not as Eli, who did not use his authority, or lay his commands upon his sons, nor... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Timothy 3:1-7

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Timothy 3:1-7

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Timothy 3:1-7

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Timothy 3:1-7

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Timothy 3:1-7

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Timothy 3:1-7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Timothy 3:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Timothy 3:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Timothy 3:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Timothy 3:4

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